Jan. 29th First Book Club Meeting

Hello to everyone reading Snow Flower and the Secret Garden. Jan. 29 is the official meeting date for the Cincinnati PPSWO group for this book, so I am posting the questions that might be raised at the meeting for you to consider commenting on. These questions (though slightly modified) came from the author, Lisa See and might be listed in the back of your book, and some came from me (Jenny).

If you haven't finished the book yet, don't worry, I don't think these questions will reveal too much to you.

If you want to comment -- sign in to your Gmail account, find the comment button, at the end of this entry or the other entries, and fill in your comments. If you don't have a Gmail account you will have to create one in order to sign in (I think), but you can create one after you have clicked the comment button, just scroll down and look for the instructions. If you have problems let me know via email and I will try to help you.

Lisa See's questions - modified and added to:

• As the narrator, is Lily portrayed as the heroine or the villain? What are her flaws or strengths? Did you identify strongly with one character in the story? How did you feel about that?
• Do "old sames" still exist today? Do you have an "old same"?
• If men knew that nu shu existed, why do you think they ignored it or allowed it to continue? What purpose did it serve in the household/community?
• How would this story differ if it were told from Snow Flower's perspective? Would she have felt the need to clarify/resolve anything with Lily?
• Do you think the author was describing a sexual relationship either ongoing or not, in the story or that it was in fact sexual in nature? Was it important to the storyline? Why do you think the author included that in the story?
• If the traditions and ramifications of not footbinding still existed do you think you would participate in foot binding? Would your daughter with or without your support? Do we have any similar traditions that bind us?
• The word for mother was described as meaning pain and love. Do you as a daughter or mother see that as still being very true? How so?
• This was a story of pain and regret, but was it also a story of atonement?
• The narrator talks about the Chinese women as weak and powerless, do you agree with that conclusion? Why or why not?
• When you think about the communication vehicle that nu shu provided - what do you in text messages and email that might actually have some of the same potential for misinterpretation/ambiguity?
• Madame Wang was a foot bound woman, but she also did business directly with men. What was her status/role in the community and do you think she was respected, feared, trusted, or considered merely a "necessary evil."

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See

This is the first book in the series recommended by Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Ohio for their book club project.

The New York Times Book Reviewer Janet Maslin wrote (in 2005): The exotica, fetishism and soap opera in Lisa See's novel of 19th-century China, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," make for a fragrant mix. Or at least they make a learning experience out of what might otherwise be more frankly perverse. The book describes a very intense friendship between two women, Lily and Snow Flower, who are linked together more closely than lovers. The only bonds tighter than the ones uniting these two souls are the agonizing ties applied to their precious young feet.

Author Lisa See wrote on her website: An old woman tells of her relationship with her "old-same," their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood—until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha , Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship.

Here are some Book Club Discussion questions, posted on the author's website: http://www.lisasee.com/